A new study brings hopeful news: taking blood pressure medications might help reduce the risk of dementia in older adults who have high blood pressure.
This offers a promising way to support brain health as we age.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is very common in older adults. It’s known to raise the risk of serious problems like heart disease and stroke.
Now, researchers are also linking it to a higher risk of dementia—a condition that affects memory, thinking, and reasoning. Alzheimer’s disease is the most well-known type of dementia, but there are other forms too. Dementia can have a big impact on a person’s quality of life.
In this large study, researchers looked at more than 34,000 older adults. They wanted to see whether taking blood pressure medications—called antihypertensives—affected the risk of developing dementia. Participants were divided into three groups:
1. People with untreated high blood pressure.
2. People with high blood pressure who were taking medication.
3. People with normal blood pressure.
The researchers followed these people for several years to see how many developed dementia. The results were very interesting: People with untreated high blood pressure were more likely to develop dementia compared to those with normal blood pressure.
People who were taking medication to manage their blood pressure had a lower risk of dementia than those who didn’t take any medication. Surprisingly, the risk of dementia in those taking medication was about the same as in people who didn’t have high blood pressure at all.
This suggests that managing high blood pressure with medication could protect not just your heart but also your brain. However, it’s important to remember that this study only shows a connection—it doesn’t prove that the medications directly prevent dementia.
Still, the findings are exciting because they point to a possible way to help prevent dementia. More research will be needed to understand exactly how blood pressure medications might protect brain health.
If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about the best way to manage it. Medications might be part of your plan, but other healthy habits—like eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking—are just as important.
In the end, keeping your blood pressure under control could help protect both your heart and your mind as you age. It’s a strong reminder that taking care of your overall health can lead to a better, longer life.
The research findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Common drug for constipation is linked to higher dementia risk and findings of Scientists find link between heartburn drugs and increased dementia risk.
For more about dementia, please read studies about Scientists find a drug related to Viagra may help treat vascular dementia and findings of link between body inflammation and dementia risk.
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